Koror, Palau – The Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary and the Palau Pledge team would like to recognize the Australian Embassy in Palau for supporting the Palau Pledge Dive Camp since its inception in 2020. The Dive Camp has certified over 100 Palauan youths, thanks, in part, to the generous donations of the Australian Embassy.
Palau Pledge has inspired not only Palau’s visitors, local community and youth people to continue to protect Palau’s culture and environment, it has created a global movement in protective Pledges as well. This past April, President Whipps and MHRTCD Minister Tmetuchel joined the signing of the Pledge to Our Keiki in Hawaii. The Pledge to Our Keiki was inspired by the Palau Pledge, a world-first initiative that requires visitors to be mindful of their actions while visiting Palau.
To show support for the Palau Pledge, and ensure ties between Australia and Palau remain strong, the Australian Embassy’s latest sponsorship of the Palau Pledge Dive Camp will enable one Palauan youth to obtain an Advanced Open Water Certificate.
The Dive Camp is designed to inspire Palau’s youth to deeply engage with their environment and culture in the context of building the next generation of Palau’s high value, high return tourism industry.
The camp starts with an online e-learning course, where the students discover the importance of being a safe diver before getting into the water. During the
week-long camp, dive masters at Sam’s Tours begin with a refresher course, including practicing in the water before the official three-tank dives. On the last day,, the youth participate in a fun dive day, where they experience their first advanced open water dive, learn about the importance of being an ocean caretaker and find out what it’s like to work in the tour industry. They also learn what they can do now to protect and care for Palau’s fragile marine environment.
The Palau Pledge Dive Camp is from Sunday, June 25 to Friday, June 30.